The Briefing: Arsenal’s wobble, Leeds’ dilemma and Bernardo Silva’s looming farewell | OneFootball

FA Cup weekend reframed the run-in, as Manchester City routed Liverpool, Chelsea eased past Port Vale, Southampton shocked Arsenal 2-1 and Leeds beat West Ham on penalties to reach a first semi-final in 39 years. According to NY Times, it leaves questions for Arsenal, Leeds and the departing Bernardo Silva.

Arsenal always targeted the Premier League and Champions League, though Mikel Arteta felt a Wembley win over City would have helped. Instead, defeat by second-tier Southampton brought no lift, even if it eased congestion. They are nine points clear having played one more, visit City on 19 April and travel to Lisbon on Tuesday for a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP.

Arteta has called this the season’s most beautiful phase, yet recent progress has felt attritional. City, Carabao Cup already won and an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton ahead, appear to be finding their rhythm.

At the London Stadium, Nuno Espirito Santo made five changes and Daniel Farke three, both stressing survival. Leeds led by two, conceded twice in stoppage time, then won on penalties. West Ham remain in the drop zone, Leeds are 15th and four points clear, and West Ham host last-placed, surely doomed Wolves on Friday.

Leeds must also juggle a semi-final against Chelsea and injuries to Anton Stach and Joe Rodon. For all the excitement, survival remains the priority, with the league season ending back at West Ham on 24 May.

Bernardo Silva’s end-of-season exit was confirmed on Sunday. He has 450 City appearances, ninth-highest in their history and the most since the 1980s, with 14 major trophies plus six more in the Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and the old annual Club World Cup. As captain he could still depart with a third FA Cup and, if things fall his way, a seventh Premier League, even if the farewell noise is quieter than Salah’s, or Guardiola’s if that also comes.

Source: NY Times